Cansino virus jab shows 66% efficacy
HONG KONG: Cansino Biologics Inc’s experimental coronavirus shot has an efficacy rate of 65.7% at preventing symptomatic cases based on an analysis from latestage trials, making it the latest vaccine candidate to show some protection against Covid-19.
The shot co-developed by the Chinese military and the Tianjinbased biotech company proved effective against symptomatic cases based on a multi-country analysis that included more than 40,000 participants, Cansino said in a statement on Monday. It is also 90.98% effective in preventing severe disease.
China’s new vaccination plan, which was recently communicated to health officials, shifted the timeline for reaching 50 million shots to the end of March, people familiar with the matter said. Bloomberg and other media reported in December that China intended to reach that target by the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts this Thursday.
Russia raises death toll Russia’s death toll from Covid-19 in 2020 was nearly three times the level previously reported by the government, and accounted for half of all excess deaths last year, according to official data.
The Federal Statistics Service reported 44,435 deaths linked to Covid-19 in December in a statement on Monday, lifting the fullyear total to 162,429. The number of deaths in 2020 reported by the government’s virus response centre was 57,555.
Meanwhile, a new study warns of “further surges” in the
US as the coronavirus variant first found in the UK becomes the dominant strain. The B.1.1.7 variant is 35-40% more transmissible, the study says, and “will likely become the dominant variant in many US states by March, 2021, leading to further surges of Covid-19 in the country.” The study was carried out by a team of virologists in the US in association with the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.
US lawmaker dies
Texas Republican Ron Wright became the first sitting member of US Congress to die of the deadly virus. He was 67.
The member of the US House of Representatives had tested positive in January and had been in hospital for two weeks in Texas. He died on Sunday night.
He had been battling lung cancer since 2018.